Connecter for bracelets



June 7, 1932- s. A. JOHNSON CONNECTER FOR BRACELETS Filed Deo. 17, 1930 il l .Mundi mullumlw Patented June 7, 1932 Y UNITED STATES ATENr oFFicE,

SYLVESTER A. JOHNSON, OF NORTH PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT E. R. SPEIDEL, 0F EDGEWOOD, RHODE ISLAND CONNECTER FOR BRACELETS Application led December 17, 1930. Serial No. 503,023.

This invention relates to a bracelet, and has for its object to provide a simple contruction to permit extension by unfolding and in which the bracelet strap part only will contact with the wrist, whereby if the same is of leather or non-metallic material, no metal will contact with the wearer.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a single rigid section for providing o the desired folding relation of the strap parts, the strap parts lying under and over the section in its folded relation, but being in end to end relation therewith when unfolded.

Another object of the invention is the simplicity of securing the bracelet in folded position.

A further object of the invention is the mounting of the securing means in one of the strap parts.

A still further object of the invention is the constructing of a bracelet so that the strap part between the securing means and the end thereof which is secured to the rigid section will be under no tension when the device is in use, whereby its length will not be varied.

Vith these and other objects and advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fuily disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the bracelet in folded position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bracelet in open or extended position;

Fig. 4 is a central section of the brac-elet in folded position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the holding means for the section released and the section in its initial movement toward unfolded position;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rigid metal section;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Figure 3;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the securing member;

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Figure 3;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the lining member for reinforcing and nishing the end of a leather strap part when used. i

In the use of watch bracelets, it is found that certain people perspire to such an extent that the acids of the skin act upon a metal bracelet toy detrimentally affect the same, causing in time raw edges and thus chafing or abrading of the skin when worn in such condition, and in order to provide aV construction in which leather strap parts may be used and in which no metal can touch the wearer, I have provided a single rigid metal section hinged to two strap parts, and which will overlie one strap part and carry with it the other strap part to overlie the metal section, whereby the appearance is provided of a leather strap being worn, and whereby the leather strap part is beneath the metal section, protecting the wrist from contact therewith; and in order to secure the bracelet in such folded position, I have hingedly mounted a member in a loop formed in one of the strap parts to extend over the end of th-e metal section when folded to lock the same in position; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

`With reference to the drawing, 10 designates one strap part and 11 another strap part, which parts may be conveniently formed of leather or the like. The strap part 10 is provided with a loop 12 through which -extends a spring pin or bar 13 to connect the strap part 10 to the rigid section 14 Vwhich maybe made of metal or any other convenient relatively rigid material provided with ears 15 with openings therein to receive the trunnions 16 of a spring bar of the usual type having a barrel portion 17 with a spring 18 therein to force these trunnions 16 outwardly. 'Ihe rigid section 14 is also provided with ears 19 at its opposite end to receive a pin 20 therein which may be passed through a loop 21 formed in the end of the 1 00 strap part 11, the loop 21 being notched or cut away to provide spaced portions 22 to expose the pin, as is illustrated in Figure 3.

'Ihe device in its extended position, as illustrated in Figure 3, may be folded about the section 14 by swinging the end attached to the strap part 10 about the pin 13 as a pivot to cause the section 14 to lie thereover, the strap part 11 at the same time swinging about the spring pin 20 to cause it to lie over the section 14, and the parts are held in this folded position by a hoolr member 23 which is mounted on the strap part 10 by means of a spring pin 24 extending through a loop 25 provided in the strap part 10 and engaging ears 26 of the member to pivot-ally mount the same thereon. The loop 25 is so positioned relative to the end of the Ysection 14 and the spring pin 2O that its hook end 27 may extend over the spring pin 20 and retain the parts in folded position, as illustrated in Figure 4. Af'detent or linger piece 28 is provided on the member 23 for raising the same for releasing the part-s to permit unfolding when desired for enlarging the encircling size of the bracelet.

By mounting the member 23 through a formed loop in the strap part 10, the strain is relieved from the underlying portionV 29 of the strap part 10 so that the length of this strap part between the loops 12 and 25is not subjected to any tension, whereby the relative distance between them will not be varied to affect the engagement of the member 23 with the pin 20 to maintain the parts in folded position. 1

In some instances, I may desire to mount a guard member 30in the notch formed between the loop portions 22 to hide the edge of the leather and protect the same, in which instance the member will be provided with flanges 31 to extend over the strap end and flaunges 32 will extend from the ears 33 which engages the pin to extend over the strap loops to protect the same and form a finish for this portion of the strap which is in view just prior to the closing ofthe member 23.

It is understood that each of the leather strap parts is of the type which is of split leather and folded upon itself, being stitched along its length, and the loop Vport-ions are formed between the halves of the strap parts by appropriate stitching or omission of stitching for the reception of the springvpins or bars which are inserted therethrough.

rlhe openings 35 are provided in the section 14 to lighten the same, and the flanges 36 are provided along its edge to stiften the same and provide guides for the reception of the overlying strap part 11 of the device, as well as providing convenient formations by the provision of the ears 15 and 19 at their ends for the reception of the spring pins which secure the flexible strap parts G5 thereto. The openings 35 also permit any moisture absorbed by the underlying strap part to be transmitted to the overlying strap part and thus to the air, relieving the double thickness and metal portion of the parts when in folded position from excessively heating the wrist when in use.

While I have described certain construction forms which embody the principles of my invention, it is obvious that other desired changes in arrangement may be made within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a flexible'bracelet, two flexible strap parts, a rigid section hingedly related at its ends to the strap parts to permit folding over one strap part and under another strap part, and a hook member hingedly mounted on one of said fiexible strap parts spaced from the hinge connection and adjacent the end of said section when in folded position to swing thereover land hold the same in folded position.

2. In a bracelet, two flexible strap parts, a rigid section, one flexible strap part hinged to one end of the section, the other flexible strap part hinged to'the other end of the section to permit one part to be folded under and the other part to be folded over said section, and a hook member hingedly mounted on one of said strap parts spaced from its connection to the section and adjacent the opposite end of said section when in folded position to swing th'ereover and hold the section in folded position.

3. In a bracelet, two flexible strap parts, a rigid section, one flexible strap part provided with a loop end, a pivot end extending through said loop end and engaging one end of said section, the other flexible strap 'part hinged to the other end of said section to permit the looped end part of the strap to be foldedA over and the other part folded under said section, a member secured to one Strap part at a point spaced from said loop and positioned to extend over said loop end when in folded position and hold the strap parts in folded position.

4. In a bracelet comprising a rigid section, a flexible strap part with a loop end', a pivot pin extending through said loop end and engaging one end of said section', said loop being cut away intermediate its sideedges to expose said pin, a flexible strap part hinged to the other end of said section to permit the looped end part of the strap to be Vfolded over and the other part folded under said section, a member secured to one strap part to extend over said loop end and j engage said pin and hold the strap parts and section in folded position.

In testimony whereof I aliix myV signature.

SYIJVESTER A. JOHNSON. 

